Herbaceous Plants

What are herbaceous plants? What are the distinguishing characteristics of herbs that set them apart from trees and shrubs? Let's find out...

HolisticZine Staff

Usually referred to as herbs in common parlance, herbaceous plants are plants that are typically characterized as having soft, flexible, tender stems and leaves which may or may not bear flowers. Herbs can be seasonal (annual, biennial) as well as perennial. The leaves and stems of herbs have a tendency to die out by the time the flourishing period or season comes to a conclusion. Herbs lack hard, woody stems and once they have flowered and produced seeds, they die completely. New herbs grow from these deeds in the next season and thus the cycle continues. The new plants that grow when the older ones die out extract nutrition from the remaining living tissues of the previous plant that may be present above or below the ground in any of the following forms - roots, caudex, bulbs, rhizomes, corms, tubers or stolons.

The following are alphabetically sorted lists of some examples of herbs as they are scientifically known, complete with the common names that are assigned to them by gardeners and herb enthusiasts all over the world.

A

Herbs' Scientific Names

Herbs' Common Names

Abelmoschus manihot

Hibiscus manihot, Sunset hibiscus, Sunset muskmallow, Aibika

Abelmoschus moschatus

Musk mallow

Abronia

Sand verbena

Abronia umbellata

Beach sand verbena

Acaena montana

Alpine Burr

Acaena novae-zelandiae

Bidgee-widgee, biddy biddy

Acanthus montanus

Mountain thistle

Achillea

Yarrow, Milfoil

Achimenes

Hot water plant

Acinos alpinus

Alpine calamint

Aciphylla colensoi

Colenso's spaniard

Aciphylla horrida

Horrid spaniard

Aconitum lycoctonum

Wolfsbane

Acorus gramineus

Japanese rush, Dwarf's sedge

Actaea rubra

Snakeberry, Red cohosh

Actinotus helianthi

Flannel flower

Adenophora liliifolia

Lilyleaf ladybells

Adonis annua

Pheasant's eye

Agapanthus africanus

African lily, Lily of the Nile

Agapanthus inapertus

Drooping agapanthus, Drakensberg agapanthus

Agastache aurantiaca

Orange hummingbird mint

Agastache cana

Mosquito plant, Hummingbird plant

Agastache foeniculum

Giant hyssop

Agastache mexicana

Mexican hyssop

Agastache rugosa

Korean mint, Wrinkled giant hyssop

Aglaonema crispum

Painted drop tongue

Agrimonia eupatoria

Hemp agrimony

Ajuga genevensis

Blue bugle

Alcea ficifolia

Antwerp hollyhock

Alchemilla mollis

Lady's mantle

Alkanna tinctoria

Dyer's bugloss

Althaea officinalis

Common marsh mallow

Anthemis tinctoria

Yellow chamomile, Golden Marguerite

Aphelandra squarrosa

Zebra plant

Artemisia absinthium

Absinthe wormwood, Common wormwood

Artemisia vulgaris

Mugwort

Asclepias physocarpus

Swan plant, Balloon cotton bush, Tinder plant

Asparagus racemosus

Shatavari

B-F

Herbs' Scientific Names

Herbs' Common Names

Brassica oleracea

Brussels Sprout

Browallia speciosa

Amethyst flower, Bush violet

Bryonia alba

Devil's turnip, English mandrake, Kudzu of the Northwest

Calendula officinalis

English/Pot marigold

Cannabis

Cannabis, Hemp, Marijuana

Centella asiatica

Asiatic penny wort

Chrysanthemum pacificum

Pacific chrysanthemum

Costus lucanusianus

Maboso (Kikongo)

Cucumis melo

Muskmelon, Cantaloupe

Echinacea tennesseensis

Tennessee purple coneflower

Euphorbia serrata

Sawtooth spurge

Filipendula rubra

Queen of the prairie

Filipendula ulmaria

Meadowseet

Foeniculum vulgare

Fennel

G-J

Herbs' Scientific Names

Herbs' Common Names

Gerbera hybrida

Gerber daisy

Glaucium

Horned/ Sea poppy

Glycine max

Soya bean, Soybean

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Licorice

Gomphrena haageana

Globe amaranth

Grindelia camporum

Great Valley gumweed

Gunnera manicata

Giant Rhubarb

Gynura aurantiaca

Royal velvet plant

Gypsophila paniculata

Baby's breath

Hesperantha coccinea

Crimson flag

Hydrangea quercifolia

Oakleaf hydrangea

Hylotelephium spectabile

Ice plant

Hylotelephium telephium

Orpine, Live forever plant

Impatiens sodenii

Oliver's impatiens

Iresine

Blood leaf

Jamesbrittenia grandiflora

Purple morning glory

L-N

Herbs' Scientific Names

Herbs' Common Names

Lamprocapnos

Bleeding heart plant

Lotus corniculatus

Birdfoot Deervetch, eggs and bacon, butter and eggs

Lupinus albus

White lupin

Lupinus diffusus

Spreading lupine

Lupinus nanus

Dwarf lupine, Field lupine

Lupinus perennis

Old Maid's bonnet, Indian beet

Maianthemum stellatum

Star flowered lily of the valley

Meconopsis betonicifolia

Himalayan blue poppy

Mirabilis jalapa

Four O'Clock

Monarda didyma

Horse mint, Oswego tea

Nertera granadensis

Coral bead plant

Nierembergia rivularis

White cup

Nigella damascena

Love-in-a-Mist

O-R

Herbs' Scientific Names

Herbs' Common Names

Origanum majorana

Marjoram

Oxalis acetosella

Common wood sorrel

Oxalis oregana

Red wood sorrel

Oxalis tetraphylla

Fouer-leaved pink sorrel

Papaver alpinum

Alpine poppy

Papaver rhoeas

Red poppy, Field poppy

Platycodon grandiflorus

Chinese bell flower, Common balloon flower

Raphanus sativus

Radish

Rheum rhabarbarum

Rhubarb

Romneya

Tree poppy

S-Z

Herbs' Scientific Names

Herbs' Common Names

Salpiglossis sinuata

Painted tongue

Salvia blepharophylla

Eyelash-leaved sage

Salvia dorisiana

Peach sage

Salvia lavandulifolia

Spanish sage

Sambucus ebulus

Danewort, Dwarf elder

Sanguisorba minor

Salad burnet

Sanguisorba officinalis

Burnet bloodwort

Sanvitalia procumbens

Creeping zinnia

Saponaria officinalis

Soapwort

Sarracenia alata

Flycathcher

Sarracenia leucophylla

White trumpet

Saururus cernuus

Lizard's tail

Saxifraga cochlearis

Snail saxifrage

Scabiosa atropurpurea

Mournful widow, Egyptian rose, Sweet scabious

Schoenoplectus lacustris

Bulrush

Scrophularia auriculat

Water betony/figwort

Sesamum indicum

Sesame

Sidalcea malviflora

Checkerbloom

Silene dioica

Red campion

Silphium terebinthinaceum

Prairie dock

Solanum ellipticum

Wild gooseberry

Sphaeralcea coccinea

Prairie mallow

Stellaria holostea

Greater stitchwort, Easter bell

Stokesia laevis

Stokes aster

Succisa pratensis

Devil's bit scabious

Syncarpha vestita

Cape everlasting

Tacca integrifolia

Bat plant

Tagetes patula

French marigold

Tanacetum balsamita

Costmary

Tanacetum coccineum

Pyrethrum

Tanacetum niveum

Silver tansy

Taraxacum officinale

Dandelion

Tellima grandiflora

Fringecups

Tetragonia tetragonioides

Warrigal greens

Those were some common as well as exotic herbaceous plants. Many people like to maintain herb gardens of their own owing to the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine and herbal remedies. Also, with the growing popularity of exotic and fusion cooking, many people prefer using herbs and spices fresh from the garden. For this purpose, a basic knowledge of herbs and spices proves helpful.